Tote bins

ABSTRACT

A tote bin liner having a liner wall to form a container, the liner wall including a transfer spigot which provides a passage from inside the liner to a tote bin outlet, the transfer spigot being adapted to have a valve mounted thereto to provide a controlled outlet from the tote bin outlet, the transfer spigot including a tubular body which defines the passage, the tubular body having a first opening on a distal end thereof; an annular surface located around the opening; a rupturable membrane sealed to the annular surface by a continuous seal around the first opening, the continuous seal being located on the annular surface; the tubular body being shaped and configured such that when in use and the valve is mounted to the body, a seal on the valve will clamp the membrane against the annular surface, wherein the annular surface has a radially inner portion and a radially outer portion, and the continuous seal is operatively located on the radially outer portion, while the radially inner portion is adapted to allow a seal of a valve which is brought into engagement with the tubular body to form a seal therewith, with the seal of the valve being arranged to isolate the continuous seal from elevated temperature and pressure arising from sterilizing fluid passing through the passage to sterilize the membrane.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to tote bins and more specifically todevices which enable polymeric liners to be inserted into tote bins andcombination of valves and spigot systems for those.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A tote bin is a bin or storage system which holds or carries bulkproduct. Tote bins are generally filled with a bulk product for thepurposes of storing and transporting that bulk product to an end user.

Typically, such tote bins are lined with a plastic or polymer linerwhich holds the bulk product. The liner has an outlet tube or spigothermetically sealed by a membrane. The outlet spigot allows forconnection to a valve so as to fill or empty the product from the liner.The valve may or may not be attached during transport.

The products which are stored and carried in tote bins typically requiresanitary or sterile conditions for the filling and emptying procedures.In the case of food product sterile conditions are generally required.

To achieve a required degree of sterility all surfaces which willcontact the product need to be sterilised. Thus when filling or emptyingthe tote bin the valve is attached in a manner so that both the valveand the membrane can be sterilised together.

One of the disadvantages of prior art tote bins which have plasticliners is that the membrane which seals the outlet spigot is arranged onthe outlet spigot in such a way that it is not readily sterilisablewithout a risk that the membrane or its seal to the spigot will bedamaged by the fluid used for sterilisation.

A typical arrangement of a prior art outlet spigot and valve isillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. In FIGS. 1 and 2 the outlet spigot isgenerally indicated by the letter “A” and is illustrated as beingattached to a liner indicated with the letter “L”. The outlet spigot Ahas a membrane E hermetically sealed thereto.

A butterfly valve “B” is connected to the outlet spigot A as depicted inFIG. 2. The valve B includes a ring shaped cylindrical cutter C having acut out segment. The cutter C is slidably located in the valve passageD, between a butterfly valve member G and the membrane E. The cutter Cis a cylindrical ring with a cut out segment. When the valve B is closedthe cutter C will not engage the membrane E until the valve is opened.

Once the valve B has been connected to the outlet A, and upon openingthe butterfly valve member G, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the cutter C ismoved to the left of the figure by an edge H of the valve member B. Theedge H engages a bar J on the cutter C. The cutter C will then engageand cut the membrane E.

As the cutter C is a cylindrical ring with a cut out segment, it leavesa portion of the membrane uncut, thereby leaving a land which connectsthe cut portion of the membrane with the uncut. The land forms a hingearrangement.

The arrangement illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 leads to severaldifficulties during sterilising procedures.

The first is that as soon as the valve B is opened, the membrane E ispierced by the cutter C. This means that for the arrangement of FIGS. 1and 2 the valve components, seals and membrane cannot be sterilisedthrough the valve.

To overcome this difficulty an additional inlet can be provided to allowthe entry of a sterilising medium into the valve between the membrane Eand the butterfly valve member G. In this case, prior to the opening ofthe butterfly valve member G, a sterilising medium is injected into theregion between the butterfly valve member G and the membrane E tosterilise the membrane E, the internal portions of the outlet spigot A,the cutter C and some of the internal portions of the valve B. In thissituation there will still remain the difficulty mentioned previouslythat the membrane or the seal between it and the outlet spigot will havethe potential to be damaged.

The potential to be damaged dictates the maximum temperature andpressure at which sterilisation occurs. This in turn generally means alower temperature and pressure sterilisation procedure will have to beused which in turn dictates that a long time will be used to achieve thenecessary level of sterilisation.

One of the disadvantages of sterilising at a temperature and or pressurewhich is not as high as it should optionally be, is that it can take solong to complete the sterilisation process that downstream processes canbe delayed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a combination of avalve and spigot for attachment to a lined tote bin, and/or a method ofsterilising and filling or emptying a lined tote bin and/or a cutter fora membrane which ameliorates, at least in part, at least one of theprior disadvantages of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a tote bin liner having a liner wall toform a container, said liner wall including a transfer spigot whichprovides a passage from inside said liner to the outside thereof, saidtransfer spigot comprising:

-   -   a tubular body which defines said passage, the tubular body        having an opening on the distal end thereof;    -   an annular surface located around the opening said annular        surface providing a sealing surface adapted to engage a seal on        a surface of a valve body when said valve body is assembled        therewith;    -   a rupturable membrane sealed to said annular surface by a        continuous seal around said opening, said continuous seal being        located on said annular surface.

The present invention further provides a tote bin liner having a linerwall to form a container, said liner wall including a transfer spigotwhich provides a passage from inside said liner to a tote bin outlet,said transfer spigot adapted to have a valve mounted thereto to providea controlled outlet from the tote bin outlet, the transfer spigotcomprising:

-   -   a tubular body which defines said passage, the tubular body        having an opening on the distal end therethrough;    -   an annular surface located around the opening;    -   a rupturable membrane sealed to said annular surface by a        continuous seal around said opening, said continuous seal being        located on said annular surface;    -   the tubular body being shaped and configured such that when in        use and said valve is mounted to the body, a seal on the valve        will clamp the membrane against the annular surface.

Preferably said annular surface is generally perpendicular to the axisof the tubular body so that a seal on a valve clamped to the body willpress the membrane against the sealing surface.

Preferably the annular surface has a radially inner portion and aradially outer portion and said continuous seal is located on saidradially outer portion whilst the radially inner portion is adapted tohave a seal of a valve which is an engagement with the tubular body sealtherewith. Alternatively the continuous seal may be located on theradially inner portion and the radially outer portion is adapted to havethe seal of a valve engage therewith.

Preferably said annular surface is included on a flange of said body.

The present invention also provides a cutter assembly to cut a membranewhich seals a transfer spigot on a container, said cutter assemblyhaving:

-   -   a valve including a valve body adapted to engage with said        spigot, the valve body including a valve closure member, adapted        to be moved between open and closed position to open and close        the valve;    -   at least one elongate cutter which terminates in a cutting tip,        said cutting tip being adapted to rupture or slit said membrane;    -   actuation means for providing axial movement to said cutter        within said valve body; and    -   said actuation means and/or said elongate cutter body being        adapted to move said cutter body to cut a membrane independently        of the operation of the valve closure member.

Preferably said actuation means is adapted to rotate said cutter aboutan axis to define an arcuate cutting action.

Preferably said cutting tip is any one of the following: a pointedspike; a blade; a crescent shaped knife; a C-shaped knife; a D- shapedcutter having an open segment.

Preferably said actuation means is adapted to move said cutter to a sideof said valve closure member remote from the spigot.

Preferably said cutter is formed in at least two elongate sections, eachterminating in a cutting tip, or alternatively the cutter bifurcatesinto two arms, each arm terminating in a cutting tip.

The cutter and actuation means may be housed in a tubular housing whichis adapted to be coaxially mounted to the valve body, the actuationmeans in use being adapted to move the cutter through the valve body,past valve closure member when the valve closure member is open, intoengagement with the membrane in cut said membrane.

The invention extends to an assembly comprising a tubular housing,cutter and actuation means for a cutter assembly according to theinvention.

The invention also provides a sterilising, cutting and transfer tubewherein the tube has a cutting assembly as described in any of theparagraphs above.

The present invention provides a method of sterilising an iniperviousrupturable membrane attached to a tote bin spigot on a liner andsubsequently filling or emptying said liner, said impervious rupturablemembrane closing a passage which connects the exterior of said liner tothe interior of said liner; said method comprising the steps of:

1 attaching a valve having a flow passage therethrough and a valveclosure member mounted within the passage moveable between open andclosed positions, the valve closure member being spaced away from themembrane;

2 passing a sterilising medium into at least the space between saidmembrane and the valve closure member to sterilise the outside surfaceof said membrane and that part of the internal flow passage within saidvalve between said membrane and the valve closure member;

3 piercing said membrane with a cutter which passes along the flowpassage past the valve closure member when the valve closure member isin the open position.

Preferably said valve closure member is in an open position at the startof and for the duration of step 2.

Preferably said sterilising medium sterilises the whole of the internalflow passage within said valve.

Preferably said valve is of the butterfly type.

Preferably said cutter is linked to a rotatory actuator to rotate saidcutters

Preferably the cutter is one of the types described in precedingparagraphs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way ofexample only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a spigot a valve of the prior art;

FIG. 2 illustrates the assembled spigot and valve of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross section through an embodiment of the presentinvention with the valve separated from the spigot;

FIG. 3A illustrates a similar view to that of FIG. 3 but with the valveand spigot connected;

FIG. 4 illustrates the sterilising and entry mechanism and cuttingmechanism for use with the spigot and valve of FIG. 3, with the spigotillustrated without an attached membrane;

FIG. 4A illustrates the apparatus depicted in FIG. 4 from a rear view;

FIG. 4B illustrates a schematic cross section through a part of theapparatus depicted in FIGS. 4 and 4A;

FIG. 5 is a detailed perspective view of the cutter for the apparatusdepicted in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 illustrates a view of the butterfly shaped valve closure memberfor the valve depicted in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 illustrates schematically the shapes of different cutting membersadapted for use with axial movement of the actuator;

FIG. 8 illustrates schematically the shapes of cutting members adaptedfor use with axial and rotation movement of the actuator;

FIG. 9 illustrates diagrammatically the D shaped flaps formed in amembrane by axial movement of C-shaped cutters.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 3A is an annular transfer spigot 2 which isconnectable or formed with a liner 1 such as the liner “L” of FIG. 1 forinsertion into a tote bin (not illustrated). Preferably the spigot 2 ismade from polyethylene, but other materials could be used, providingthey do not lose their structural integrity during or after thesterilisation process which will be described below. The liner ispreferably manufactured from polyethylene or may be made from a barriermaterial such as metallised polyester, or foil depending upon the typeof product to be contained by the liner. The spigot 2 includes a tubularbody 13 having an axial internal passage 14 therethrough to allow flowcommunication between the interior and exterior of the liner.

The body 13 is formed with one end having a flange 4 for attachment tothe liner. The outer portion of body 13 reduces in diameter to form aneck 3 and then expands to provide an outer flange 8 at the distal endthereof.

The flange 8 has a generally flat annular surface 11 thereon whichsurrounds the passage 14 through the body. A disc shaped membrane 6 isheat sealed to the annular surface 11. The heat seal 10 is continuousaround the annular surface 11. The heat seal 10 is preferably formed inthe radially outer peripheral section of the annular surface 11.Preferably the membrane 6 is manufactured from a polyester laminatedLPDE material, but other cuttable or rupturable materials such as areknown in the art may be used.

The annular surface 11 also includes an annular shaped inner section 12between the heat seal 10 and internal passage 14. The flange 8 ispreferably not joined or otherwise connected to membrane 6, in thisinner annular section 12. (Alternatively the membrane can be heat sealedacross the full width of the surface”, and this possibility is discussedbelow).

For typical tote bin applications the internal passage 14 is preferablyapproximately 50 mm in diameter.

Also illustrated in FIG. 3 is a valve 20 which is of the butterfly type.The valve 20 includes a valve body 21 having a flow passage 23therethrough and a disc shaped butterfly valve member 22 located in theflow passage 23 (illustrated in more detail in FIG. 6) which isrotatable so as to close or open the passage 23 by means of a handle 26.

On the end of the valve 20 remote from the spigot 2 is a tapered seatunion 28 which is of threaded formation to allow for the connection ofthe valve to one or more of the following: fill station, sterilisationunit, emptying station, a membrane cutter or other device.

The other end of the passage 23 terminates with a flange 30 which has atapered construction when viewed in cross section. The taper on theflange 30 is similar to the taper on the flange 8 also illustrated inFIG. 3 to allow a clamping ring (not shown) to surround and clamptogether the flanges 30 and 8. The flange 30 has a generally planarsealing face 32 of similar dimensions and diameter to the annularsurface 11 which is provided with a sealing groove 34 which receives anannular seal 36. The seal 36 illustrated has a rectilinear side whichlocates in the groove 34 and an arcuate front side which protrudes fromthe face 32. This arrangement of seal is able to maintain its structuralcharacteristics during sterilisation procedures. If desired the groove34 could be shaped to receive a standard O-ring. The seal 36 may be madeof a material such as food grade seal material.

When connected the heat seal 10 surrounds and is spaced radiallyoutwardly from the location of contact (being in the area 12) of theseal 36 against the membrane 6. In use, during sterilisation procedures,this arrangement allows the contact and pressure of seal 36 compressingmembrane 6 to flange 8 in the area 12 to isolate the heat seal 10 fromthe elevated pressure and temperature which the outer face of themembrane is subjected to.

Once the valve 20 and spigot 2 are connected together, asterilising/cutting/filling assembly 78 (as illustrated in FIG. 4) isattached to the valve 20 via nut 80 to the union 28.

The assembly 78 comprises a tubular housing 79 which contains an axiallymovable cutter 40 for cutting the membrane 6, an actuator for moving thecutter, and means for sterilising the interior of the valve body, andthe outer face of the membrane 6. These components are described in moredetail below.

Once the assembly 78 is connected to the valve 20 the butterfly valvemember 22 is opened and sterilising medium is caused to enter thetubular housing 79 via an inlet connection 82. The preferred sterilisingmedium is steam at 148° C. and approximately 3.8 bar of steam pressure.The steam passes through the housing 79, and into the internal passage23 in the valve 20. The steam will act on the outside surface of themembrane and the internal surfaces of the valve 20 which are exposed tothe steam.

This high temperature and pressure would ordinarily, in the case of theprior art, cause damage to the heat seal holding the membrane to thespigot (as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2) due to the elevated pressureand the temperature acting on it. However, as mentioned above, the seal36 provides a protective barrier for the heat seal 10, thereby allowingrelatively high pressure and temperature conditions to be used forsterilisation.

After the sterilisation process has been conducted for approximately 10seconds (with the steam at the specified temperature and pressure) thesupply of sterilising medium is withdrawn via a steam outlet fitting 77(which is only partly visible in FIGS. 4 and 4A) and the cutter 40 willoperate. The purpose of the cutter is to rupture the membrane 6, therebyallowing fluid to pass from, or into, the liner, depending on theapplication.

FIGS. 3 and 3A illustrate the cutter 40 which is slidable in an axialdirection within the valve 20. The cutter 40 is illustrated inperspective view in FIG. 4 and in more detail in FIG. 5.

The cutter 40 is of a tubular construction and includes a cylindricalbase 42 which can be connected either directly or indirectly to anactuator 43 mounted on or within the housing 79. The actuator 43 maycomprise a pneumatic or hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly, a rotaryactuator or other motor driven device and, optionally, a hand operatedrotation device.

Extending away from the base 42 are two support arms 44 and 46, (thelatter of which is better illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 3A as the supportarm 46 cannot be seen in FIGS. 4 or 5). The support arms 44 and 46 eachhave an arcuate shape in cross section which helps to give rigidity andstrength thereto.

Arcuate cutting blades 48 and 50 are attached to the distal ends of thesupport arms 44 and 46. The cutting blade 48 has a length 52 while thecutting blade 50 has a length 54 which is approximately 2 to 3 timeslonger than the length 52. Both cutting blades 48 and 50 haveapproximately the same circumferential dimensions.

The adjacent side edges of the blades 48 and 50 are separated from eachother by a gap 58 at both the top and bottom thereof. The gap 58 extendsfrom the side edges of the blades 48 and 50 back through to the base 42.The gap 58 is sized to receive the butterfly valve member 22 when thevalve member is open, so that the blades 48 and 50 can pass along theinternal passage 23 in the valve 20. The cutter 40 is housed within thetubular housing 79.

After the interior of the valve 20 has been sterilised the cutter willbe moved axially from the housing, past the open valve member 22, to cutthe membrane 6. The cutter is moved by means of the actuator 43, alsohoused within the housing 79. Preferably the actuator 43 will comprise ahydraulic or pneumatic piston and cylinder assembly. As the blades 48and 50 engage the membrane 6, cutting tips 60 on the leading ends of theblades 48 and 50 cut the membrane in two C shaped cuts, depicted in FIG.9.

The cutter 40 may then be pushed further into the spigot 2 until therear end 62 of blade 48 moves past the membrane 6. It will be notedthat, due to part circular shape of the blades 48 and 50, twodiametrically opposite lands 91 and 92 of membrane material retain thecentral region of the membrane to the outer peripheral region thereof.

Once the end 62 of blade 48 is clear of the membrane 6, the butterflyvalve member 22 will be located in the gap 66 between the rear end 60 ofblade 50 and the base 42 of the cutter 40. The length of the gap 66, isgreater than the diameter of the butterfly valve 22 so that thebutterfly valve member 22 is at that stage located in a relatively widerecess, rearward of both blades 48 and 50.

Once the butterfly valve member 22 is located in the gap 66, the cutter40 is rotated by the actuator 43 (see FIG. 4) which will rotate theblades 48 and 50 in direction 68 through an angular displacement of some10° to 30° so that the top edge 70 of cutter 50, will rotate and cut theclosest land to it, so as to sever that land. Once this land is cut, theother land is allowed to remain intact so that the severed centralportion of the membrane 6 remains attached to the radially outer portionof the membrane 6 by means of that intact land.

The width of the remaining land is selected dependent upon the frictionwhich will be applied to that land by the product moving into and or outthrough the spigot 2. For many applications a width of 10 mm issufficient when the membrane is made of laminated polyethylene andpolyester, (or a lamination of polyethylene, aluminium foil and nylon orother commonly used laminations which allow the heat sealing of apolyethylene layer to the spigot 2), to prevent the movable membraneportion shearing off at the remaining land. If a product used with thespigot 2 will produce a friction of greater magnitude than designed for,the width of land may need to be increased.

After the cutter 40 has completed its cutting of the membrane, the linercan be filled with or emptied of product. This is done by the transfertube 81 which is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 4A and in cross section inFIG. 4B. In FIG. 4B it can be seen that the transfer tube 81 connects toand opens into the tubular housing 79 in the region of the gap 66between the blade 50 and the base 42.

Filling of the liner is carried out as follows, The base 42 of thecutter 40 moves back into the tubular housing 79 and is sealed withrespect thereto by a sliding seal 45, so as to prevent steam and productfrom passing the seal 45 towards the actuator 43. Once the cutter 40 andits base 42 have been retracted to the position indicated in FIG. 4B, avalve (not illustrated), mounted as close as practicable to the junctionof the housing 79 and transfer tube 81, is opened thus allowing food orother product to pass through the junction and through the gaps in thecutter 40 so as to flow through to the valve and into the liner via thespigot 2.

Once transfer of product has taken place the nut 80 is disconnected fromthe union 28 and the operator will allow some or sterilising fluid toenter the housing 79 via the inlet 82 so that the steam or sterilisingfluid will flush away any product which may remain inside the housing79.

If desired the support arm 44 and blade 48 could be dispensed with andthe blade 50 alone utilised. However, if the blade 48 is not present,the blade 50 will need to be rotated through a much larger arc toprovide a maximum possible cut. In this arrangement it is envisaged thata cut of approximately 270° can be created by the blade 50 alone.

In some situations and locations a tote bin is filled at a site and issupplied to a customer without a valve being attached. In these casesthere is a second spigot on the liner to allow the liner to be filled,but not emptied. In this situation a spigot 2 is used as an outlet only,and will be provided with a hermetically sealed membrane 6. The spigot 2may be covered by a cap or other protective covering.

Once at the end users site, the user attaches a valve 20 (or if a valveis already attached but the spigot 2 has not had its hermetic sealbroken), the operator connects a sterilising/cutting/emptying assembly(similar or the same as sterilising/cutting/filling assembly 78 exceptthat transfer tube 81 is used to draw the product away). In this way theexposed valve internals and the membrane can be sterilised first, thenthe cutter passed through the membrane to allow product to flow from theliner through the valve 20. Once this is done the food or other productin the tote bin can be emptied therefrom.

Otherwise if the membrane is cut at the filling location, once the lineris filled, the butterfly valve is closed and in the region adjacent theunion 28, a wad may be located which will include a germicide, so as tokeep sterile any product which may leak through the valve or may becaught on the wrong side of the butterfly valve member 22. Once a wad isin position, an end cap is placed on the union 28. When a tote binprepared in this way arrives at the end user's site, the end user willremove the end cap and wad (if it is present) and then will connect asterilising/cutting/emptying assembly (similar to assembly 78) tosterilise, cut the membrane and empty the tote bin.

If desired instead of rotating the blades 48 and 50 to cut the membrane6, the cutter 40 can simply be pushed through the membrane to form twoC-shaped cuts as illustrated in FIG. 9. These will be hinged to the mainbody of the membrane through a land which is connected at one locationon the held membrane and at another diametrically opposite location.

The two C-shaped cuts will form two D-shaped flaps (see FIG. 9). TheseD-shaped flaps will not provide as big an opening as a single land(approximately some 33% in a 50 mm diameter spigot 2) and under normalcircumstances this reduction-would be a restriction in the flow path. Toremove the restriction, a larger spigot 2 and larger inlet end to valve20 could be provided to compensate for the reduction in the size of theopening. Such a valve 20 with a larger inlet end may terminate in aunion 28 which is the standard 50 mm DIN union, or it may be a largerunion if desired.

If desired, the blades 48 and 50 could be replaced by a single blademounted on a rotatable arm which is attached to a rotation device so asto rotate the arm and the cutters. Such a single cutter can be in theform of a blade (see item (5) in FIG. 8) or a pointed spike (see item(4) in FIG. 8) for insertion into the membrane and rotated through anarc within the confines of the opening provided by one half of thebutterfly valve. Once the cut or slit is scribed, formed, sheared ormade into the membrane 6, the single cutter is retracted then insertedinto the membrane 6, through the other opening on the other side of thebutterfly valve member 22. The single blade is then rotated in an arcand withdrawn. Two C-shaped cuts providing D-shaped flaps will result,such as that illustrated in FIG. 9.

In another variation, the single blade 50 (see item (1) in FIG. 8) canbe provided onto a base 42. The blade 50 can be inserted into themembrane 6 and then rotated part of the way then retracted and insertedinto the other side of the opening provided by the butterfly valvemember 22. The blade 50 can then be rotated the rest of the way toproduce a flap connected to a membrane connected to the rest of themembrane by means of a single land.

In the embodiments described above which produce two D-shaped flaps, theD-shaped flaps as illustrated in FIG. 9 are hinged to a rectangularsection 93 of membrane material. The rectangular section 93 connects tothe radially outer part of the membrane 6 via two lands 91 and 92located at either end of the rectangular section 93.

If desired, the membrane 6 can be provided with a line of weakness 90(as illustrated in FIG. 9) adjacent or at the land 91. The D-shapedflaps hinge to the rectangular section 93 of membrane material betweenthe lands 91 and 92. In use the line of weakness 90 will break once theproduct begins to flow out of or into the liner. This will remove therestriction which would be otherwise present. By breaking at a line ofweakness 90, it ensures that the rectangular section 93 will not breaksimultaneously at two locations. Such simultaneous breakage risks thecomplete separation of the cut portion of the membrane 6, with the riskthat complete separation will mean that the cut portion of the membranewill be inadvertently included in a manufacturer's final product.

In the preferred embodiment there is only one spigot 2 in the liner, andthrough which the tote bin is filled and emptied. However, in somearrangements, the valve 20 and spigot 2 are used only as an emptyingport, near to the lowest point of the tote bin. In these arrangementsthe liner may have a filling point at another location, which may or maynot be formed with a spigot 22, and then sealed after filling.

The cutter shapes illustrated in FIG. 7 are those that can form twoslits simultaneously with axial movement only. Other cutters areindicated in FIG. 8.

All the cutters illustrated in FIG. 8 are designed to cut one section ofmembrane at a time, through the openings provided by the butterfly valvemember. They will require retraction from the membrane portion first cutand then rotational movement to move to the other opening provided bythe butterfly valve member 22. Once adjacent the other opening, therespective cutters are moved axially to re-engage the membrane 6 andthen rotated yet again, to complete the slit.

The cutters of items (2) and (3) of FIGS. 7 and 8, produce a D-shapedflap that connects to the rectangular section 93 of FIG. 9 by a muchsmaller hinge than that provided by the cutters of item 1 of FIGS. 7 or8. The helical cutter of item (6) of FIG. 8 works by both a rotation andaxial movement.

In the above preferred and illustrated embodiment, the membrane 6 isheat sealed to the flange 8 by means of an annular band 10 of heat seal.While in the preferred embodiment this heat seal 10 is approximately 3mm wide, such a heat seal 10 will be more than adequate if placedoutside of or under the seal 36 on the valve 20, when the valve and thespigot 2 are connected.

If desired, the whole of the area 12 can also be heat sealed, with theseal 36 bearing against the membrane. That is all of the outwardlyfacing surface area of the flange 8, being that area which will engagethe flange 30 of the valve 20, can be heat sealed to the membrane 6.

Further, providing sufficient width of heat seal 10 is provided, theheat seal 10 could be located on the flange 8 within the area bounded bythe seal 36. Even though heat and pressure may influence the heat seal10 of the membrane 6 to the flange 8, if sufficient surface area isprovided then the softening that may occur will not be acting longenough to damage the connection between the membrane 6 and the flange 8.The exact width of the heat seal 10 will, it is envisaged, be greaterthan 3 mm. It is expected that a heat seal 10 having a width of some 8to 10 mm may be sufficient.

It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined hereinextends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individualfeatures mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of thesedifferent combinations constitute various alternative aspects of theinvention.

The foregoing describes embodiments of the present invention andmodifications, obvious to those skilled in the art can be made thereto,without departing from the scope of the present invention.

1-23. (cancelled)
 24. A tote bin liner having a liner wall to form acontainer, said liner wall including a transfer spigot which provides apassage from inside said liner to a tote bin outlet, said transferspigot being adapted to have a valve mounted thereto to provide acontrolled outlet from the tote bin outlet, the transfer spigotcomprising: a tubular body which defines said passage, the tubular bodyhaving a first opening on a distal end thereof; an annular surfacelocated around the opening; a rupturable membrane sealed to said annularsurface by a continuous seal around said first opening, said continuousseal being located on said annular surface; the tubular body beingshaped and configured such that when in use and said valve is mounted tothe body, a seal on the valve will clamp the membrane against theannular surface, wherein the annular surface has a radially innerportion and a radially outer portion, and said continuous seal isoperatively located on said radially outer portion, while the radiallyinner portion is adapted to allow a seal of a valve which is broughtinto engagement with the tubular body to form a seal therewith, with theseal of the valve being arranged to isolate the continuous seal fromelevated temperature and pressure arising from sterilizing fluid passingthrough the passage to sterilize the membrane.
 25. A tote bin lineraccording to claim 24, wherein said continuous seal is confined to theradially outer portion of the annular surface.
 26. A tote bin lineraccording to claim 24, wherein the container is filled with a flowableproduct adapted to be discharged through the transfer spigot.
 27. A totebin liner according to claim 24, wherein the tubular body has a secondopening on a proximal end thereof venting into said container, saidsecond opening being unrestricted for facilitating the free transfer offlowable product into and out of the container.
 28. A tote bin linerhaving a liner wall to form a container, said liner wall including atransfer spigot which provides a passage from inside said liner to theoutside thereof, said transfer spigot comprising: a tubular body whichdefines said passage, the tubular body having a first opening on thedistal end thereof; an annular surface located around the opening, saidannular surface providing a sealing surface adapted to engage a seal ona surface of a valve body when said valve body is assembled therewith; arupturable membrane sealed to said annular surface by a continuous sealaround said opening, said continuous seal being located on said annularsurface; wherein the annular surface has a radially inner portion and aradially outer portion, and said continuous seal is operatively locatedon said radially outer portion, while the radially inner portion isadapted to allow a seal of a valve which is brought into engagement withthe tubular body to form a seal therewith, with the seal of the valvebeing arranged to isolate the continuous seal from elevated temperatureand pressure arising from sterilizing fluid passing through the passageto sterilize the membrane.
 29. A tote bin liner according to claim 28,wherein the tubular body has a second opening on a proximal end thereofventing into said container, said second opening being unrestricted forfacilitating the free transfer of flowable product into and out of thecontainer.
 30. A tote bin liner according to claim 28, wherein saidcontinuous seal is confined to the radially outer portion of the annularsurface.
 31. A tote bin liner according to claim 29, wherein saidcontinuous seal is confined to the radially outer portion of the annularsurface.